Tiny Insect Cyborgs Could Act As First Responders

Zothecula writes "Insects have served as the inspiration for a number of Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) that could be deployed to monitor hazardous situations without putting humans in harm's way. Now researchers at the University of Michigan College of Engineering are proposing using actual live insects enhanced with electronic sensors to achieve the same result. The insect cyborgs would use biological energy harvested from their body heat or movements to potentially power small sensors implanted on their bodies in order to gather vital information from hazardous environments."

Re:

[Reasonable Facsimile]

Gives new meaning to the phrase, "I've got crabs."

I for one,

[iCEBaLM]

Welcome our new Insect Cyborg overlords

How long until it is weaponized?

[marcosdumay]

Seems an obvious candidade for weaponization. How log will it take?

Re:

[MadKeithV]

How log will it take?

How log is a piece of strig?

Thab debebs ob webber you hab a bab colb or nob.

Re:

[Chrisq]

How log will it take?

How log is a piece of strig?

Thanks for the Koan, there's always time for Zen.

Re:

[gstoddart]

Thanks for the Koan, there's always time for Zen.

What is the sound of one cheek farting?

If you see the Buddha on the road, say hi for me.

Re:

[dissy]

How log will it take?

How log is a piece of strig?

According to the 2009 BBC/Horizons documentary by the same name: How long is a piece of string [topdocumentaryfilms.com]
the answer is either 32cm, or infinite ;}

Can you see the hostages....?

[Chrisq]

Can you see the hostages....?

No I'm afraid our high tech surveillance system has been thwarted by a fly-spray.

Re:

[citizenr]

Can you see the hostages....?

No I'm afraid our high tech surveillance system has been thwarted by a fly-spray.

http://futuretom.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/cockroach-fifth-element.jpg [wordpress.com]

Stinkbugs

[stevegee58]

I'm all for it as long as they predate on stinkbugs.

Obvious applications

[wdef]

The "up skirt" and "bathroom cam" pron subgenres will put this to good use.

Evil overlord's new hobby

[Chemisor]

Now evil overlords will have to switch from keeping fluffy cats to keeping scary spiders. "Come into my lair, little one! Feeling a little sticky? Hearing a soft patter of giant fuzzy legs? Bwah ha ha ha ha ha!"

In Soviet Michigan...

[seven of five]

Bugs have programs.

Flygun

[pgpalmer]

The latest in anti-cyborg technology! http://www.amazingflygun.com/main.asp [amazingflygun.com] I've got one, and it does work quite well.

Terra Nova already did it.

[Tastecicles]

Latest episode: giant dragonfly equipped with SD media card. OK, it ain't quite "Fortress 2" bug, but there's yet another example of prior art. This ain't nothing new.